Contents
From the Board - Past President
We Mean Business: Lisa Lee, Vivien Godfrey
Grapevine: News and Notes about WEC Members
All I Needed to Know About Life I learned from Santa
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Date: Time: |
December Holiday
Luncheon Friday December 17th 11:30 Networking 12:00 Luncheon |
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Place:
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Westin Hotel on Cypress Creek |
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Guest Cost:
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Guest Cost: $28.00 Members are responsible for guest |
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| Menu: |
Menu: Garden Green Salad Tropical Rice Dessert: White Chocolate Tartufo |
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| RSVP to: |
Please email your menu choice to Vivien
Godfrey at vgodfrey@bluewaterweb.com at
your earliest convenience. Or call her office and leave a message at
954-763-6533 x245. Her friendly staff is ready to help you. Deadline
for December's luncheon is Dec 10, 2004. See you at the lunch! |
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Program: Live holiday music and a gift exchange !
Gift Exchange: bring a $15 gift wrapped with your business card tucked
inside.
In the spirit of the season, any of the following items will be greatly appreciated!
Family
Central: Books, games, toys (no stuffed animals; no clothes) for children
ages 0-12.
Woodhouse: Woodhouse
would like you to bring Toiletries (skin care, hair care, make up, hand
cream etc) for their disabled ladies.
President’s Message
Our
November Cannon Circle just South of the Border was great fun! Ronnie Karlin
and Drazia Rubenstein treated us to a fiesta grande with Sangria, chicken,
beans and rice, and flan. We sat by the pool, listened to Rod Stewart,
ate, drank and laughed ourselves silly with hurricane tales.
We had a great turnout (70+) to hear Steve Weiss speak at our November luncheon. Thank you to all who gave a donation to Broward Outreach. Our “brown lunch bags” collected $200, which means we fed 100 people a complete Thanksgiving meal. Thank you Drazia for delivering our donation in person.
We have two new members: Diane Brucks McDonald, sales representative for La Palapa Resortwear, and Lori Wellins, financial advisor for Smith Barney. Please introduce yourself to them at our next luncheon.
And speaking of our next luncheon, it’s at the Westin Hotel on Cypress Creek in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, December 17. Our Holiday luncheon is the ideal time to treat moms, sisters, clients and special friends to a lovely afternoon. There’s live holiday music, a complimentary glass of wine (thanks Pat McCarthy), and a yummy lunch followed by a sinfully decadent dessert. Plus, we have a gift exchange that encourages us to “steal” gifts from other members.
We also recognize members for their years of service to WEC. This year we have seven who have reached membership milestones. And last but not least, we have a table set up so you can drop off charitable contributions (unwrapped, please) if you choose to Family Central and/or Woodhouse. Barbara Weinstein and Marsha Linville, respectively, will pick up any donations after the luncheon and distribute them to their clients.
Scrumptious cuisine, holiday music, thoughtful presents, warm feelings of friendship, opportunities for sharing. Who could ask for anything more? Come celebrate the season with us.
Happy Holidays!
Dee
From the Board
As
your Past-President this WEC year, my responsibilities include organizing
the Cannon Circles and helping in a few other areas of the Club. I personally
am trying to attend more Cannon Circles this year, as they are a wonderful
way to build solid connections with members as well as an opportunity to
grow, since we share with each other in a variety of topics. For example,
at Ronnie’s Cannon Circle in November, I got some feedback from members
about the Windows Service Pack 2 and other computer-related security issues
that was helpful to me. But, at the Cannon Circles, we mostly talk about
personal matters. For those juicy tidbits, you will have to attend! Although
I haven’t been able to fit the Book Club into my schedule yet, I
understand that it is also a very special experience for Members.
As I wind down my three-year commitment to WEC, I must tell you that serving you has been a wonderful experience for me, and I continue to marvel at how special our Club is. I thoroughly enjoyed my year as your President and will always think of it as one of the best years of my life!
Fondly, Leigh Nickel
Welcome New Members
Lori Anne Wellins is a First Vice President-Investments and Retirement Planning Specialist with Smith Barney in the Las Olas Office.
Lori has been a resident of Plantation for over thirty years and is a graduate of Nova High School and The University of Florida in Gainesville.
She has been in the financial services industry for over 11 years and currently manages over $200 million dollars of client assets for over 400 families with her partner, Ronald Silberberg.
Lori has been a member of the Board of Directors of Temple Kol Ami for over eight years and has held several leadership positions on the Temple Executive Board including: Financial Secretary and Treasurer. She is married to Steven Wellins and they are both active and involved in the Jewish Community.
In her free time, Lori enjoys tennis, running, skiing and watching football.
Diane Brucks McDonald was born in Jefferson City, MO. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a BA in Fine Arts (drawing, painting) and taught art in an elementary /junior high school for almost 10 years in Jefferson City and St. Louis, MO.
Diane has worked in the Swimwear Industry (design, manufacturing, retail, wholesale) since 1980. She is currently a sales representative for La Palapa, a resortwear/cover-up line for Florida and the Caribbean. She is a newly licensed private investigator with McDonald Investigative Services of Plantation.
Diane moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1978. She married Wayne McDonald in
1998 and has two step-sons; Albert McDonald of Atlanta, GA and Benson McDonald
of Jackson Hole, WY.
Diane is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ft. Lauderdale,
(currently serving as a Trustee), a member of the Adult Ministries Committee,
serving on the Buildings and Grounds Committee, a S.W.I.M. Alliance Board
member, and secretary of the
Swimwear Association of Florida.
Her hobbies and interests include reading, painting, travel, art history, dance and swimming.
Future Executive (FX) Mentor Program
We need your involvement to make our Mentorship Program a success! Thank you in advance to everyone who has already volunteered! We want to know what “gift” you have that you are willing to share with an FX (future executive). Your “gift” may be anything in life – something work related, socially or technically oriented, etc. Would you spend some time with an FX at our WEC functions? Lunch, GEM, Book Club, Cannon Circle, etc.? Ronnie Karlin
To learn more about this program, click here.
We Mean Business
Members be sure and bring your business cards to the luncheons. Each month,
the member whose business card is selected gets to be profiled in the newsletter.
What a great way to get your business information out to the other members!
Members be sure and bring your business cards to the luncheons. Each month, the member whose business card is selected gets to be profiled in the newsletter. What a great way to get your business information out to the other members!
Air France wishes everyone a bon voyage, but we know it doesn’t always go smoothly. When customers complain that something has gone wrong with their journey, that's when my department steps in. Air France Customer Service handles after-travel issues, including missing baggage, refunds, and "quality of service" lapses, for the whole USA. We share an office in Sunrise with the USA Call Center – Reservations, Tickets By Mail, and Groups – over 100 people of diverse backgrounds. (A casual survey counted more than 25 languages spoken!)
Clients call Baggage Service here after they have reported at the airport that their luggage did not arrive on the flight with them. You can imagine how upset they are – the agents who handle these calls get a lot of practice exercising diffusing and recovery skills. People react to a missing bag much more personally than, say, a delayed or cancelled departure. Fortunately, 98% of missing bags are reunited with their owners. A lot of Customer Service’s work is devoted to compensating for the 2% of luggage not found (we avoid the word “lost”) and liaising with the airports to further the search.
You would think that we’ve heard every complaint before, but there are often new twists and curious anecdotes in the letters we receive. I remember one customer’s report of getting stung by a bee at 350,000 feet! I had to answer another, who was catapulted from his wheelchair in transit. Of course, Air France transports its share of VIPs: recently we wrote to Danielle Steele and Joan Baez.
I love the aspect of my job that focuses on the way the airline handles travelers with disabilities. I am uniquely qualified to comment on this service, as I worked for 15 years in Operations – flight planning and load control – at various airports before being transferred here when my balance became impaired. Foreign carriers that fly to and from the USA may soon be held to the same standards implemented by U.S. airlines to comply with the Air Carrier Access Act, enforced by the D.O.T. I’ve been invited to participate in a meeting about this subject with the D.O.T. in Washington in December.
Of all the challenges that come with the territory of running Air France’s Customer Service Department, the trickiest is managing a spirited team of about 40 individuals. Airlines traditionally do not pay high salaries, but count on attracting employees with the benefits and atmosphere they offer. It takes imagination to coach this pool of agents on airport procedures, telephone etiquette, and letter writing. Fortunately, enthusiasm and determination come with the territory too.
Vivien Godfrey - Blue Water Books and Charts
I grew up in England as the third generation of a map and chart making
family. My family business has been publishing and retailing nautical charts,
maps, globes and atlases since 1853. I have a Masters degree in Geography
from Oxford University and an MBA from INSEAD. I moved to Fort Lauderdale
in 2000 when my husband and I bought Bluewater Books & Charts – America’s
premier supplier of nautical books and charts. Before buying Bluewater
Books and Charts, I worked as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company
in London, Hamburg and Toronto. My clients were mainly retailers or branded
manufacturers of consumer products. Then I spent almost ten years with
the large British corporation Diageo Plc. My final job with Diageo was
in Minneapolis as the General Manager for Haagen-Dazs North America.
I married John Mann in 1997 in Kennebunkport, Maine and have two stepsons, Justin and JJ, both grown up. I am also a proud granny with 3 grandchildren as well as two cats Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. My work consumes a large part of my life, but since we also own a store in Newport, RI and we have a worldwide customer base I travel a great deal and enjoy this very much. Last week John and I visited Antigua for 5 days to attend the Boat Show. This show attracts some of our most important customers and it is an amazing chance to visit some beautiful boats. The show is for charter brokers to see the boats that their customers might wish to charter for a weeks vacation. The smallest vessels are around 55 feet in length and charter for around $15,000 per week. The larger vessels are perhaps 160 feet and cost $250,000 for a week.
In the spring of 2005 we will be moving our store from 17th Street to the new Harbor Shops just south of where we are now located. This is a major project and is giving me the opportunity to learn a lot more about construction than I really want to know! If we move into our new location on time I plan to host the Cannon Circle in May 2005 at the new store.
WEC
Book Club:
In 2002, members of WEC who had a common desire for reading and discussions formed the WEC Book Club. The book for discussion is select by the majority and the gathering is held in a member’s home (munchies are always welcome). The meeting schedule varies according to the book and other circumstances. All members are welcome to participate.
The Book Club will meet on Monday, January 24, 2005, at 6:30 to discuss
William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" at Emily Rushin's home. All
members are welcome! Bring a dish to share and Emily will provide the wine
or other beverages. Yes, the holidays are a busy time, but be good to yourself!
Put your feet up and read a great (and short!) book. "As I Lay Dying" is
so good it has made the transition from Fiction to Literature. Our discussions
aren't dry and dull but based on our life experiences. We'd love for you
to come. Emily
Cannon
Circle
For new members, Cannon Circles are hosted at members’ homes and provide a more informal atmosphere for us to get to know each other. Please contact Leigh Nickel at 954-423-0006 if you would like to host a Cannon Circle.
The Cannon Circle is named for Past President Shirley Cannon who was known for her gracious and uplifting spirit.
November’s Cannon Circle was hosted by Ronnie Karlin and Drazia Rubenstein South of the border in Miami Springs.
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December Cannon Circle:
Please join us for "Our Own Christmas on Las Olas Cannon Circle" at Betsy Grant's house
Thursday, December 9th at 5:30 PM
2612 Aurelia Place, Ft. Lauderdale
RSVP to Home: 954-761-3763 or LeighNickel@AOL.comDirections: From Federal Highway go East on Broward Blvd.
Go South on S.E. 15th Ave.
Go East on Las Olas Blvd.
Pass Riviera Isle (there is a traffic light)
Go South at next street - Poinciana Dr. (Idlewild Island)
Go through "Private Community" columns
Go 3 blocks
Go East on Aurelia Place
First house on Right side (see address on flower pots!)
Park on the street
We hope to see you there!
Leigh Nickel and Betsy Grant
GEM “Greet Eat Meet” Program
Formed in November 2002, members of WEC who choose to get together for an informal meeting are selected at random in small groups to greet, eat and meet. A Lead person is selected to set a time and place for breakfast, lunch, dinner or what ever. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level. It is great fun!
The GEM Team has been formed to assist with this program. The committee members are Joann Alderman, Marshia Durham, Christy Lambertus, Gayle Metcalf, and Joni Rosenthal.
The
Executive Grapevine: news and notes about WEC members. (send them email
by clicking on their name)
Ginny
Forster took her husband to St. Mary's GA - home of Barbara's Ryan's
B&B, the Goodbread House - on a surprise weekend for his recent birthday.
Though Barbara was fully booked that weekend and could not accommodate
them, Barbara gave Ginny and Paul a wonderful tour. Every room is themed
with all sorts of coordinated memorabilia - the Lucy & Ricky room,
the Rhett & Scarlet room, and so on. It was absolutely charming,
with cozy bedrooms and bathrooms large enough to house fireplaces and
oversized claw-foot bathtubs. More importantly, Barbara looks 100% "at
home" in her new environment - you can tell she's clearly in love
with her new career as an innkeeper.
Patty Camp married David Schmid on Saturday, November 27, 2004 at her
mother's home in Washington State. As many of you know, Patty "reconnected" with
her old beau at the beginning of this year, sold her condo in Boca Raton
and moved to Phoenix, Arizona to be with the love of her life. The happy
couple will be spreading out their honeymoon during 2005 when they will
take long weekends to visit friends and family in Florida, California,
Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Washington State. She will make sure that
when she visits Florida, she will make it to a WEC meeting.
Joann Alderman writes: A birthday party was given for Mary Crum on November 20, followed by attending the performance of Respect at the Stage Door's 26th Street Theatre. This show is a musical journey of women from "Someone to Watch Over me? to " I will Survive." The performers are outstanding and the program leaves you feeling very empowered as well as enjoyable. (This performance was better than the Menapause Melody.)
Marilynn Obrig was honored on November 17th by the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale for her 25th year of membership and service with the Association.
Shana Munden spent Thanksgiving with friends in Las Vegas. They went to shows where she used to dance. Have a Happy Holiday, Love, Shana
Joni Rosenthal would love for everyone to see her 1-pound, 3-ounce little Chihuahua named Tylar.
All I Needed to Know About Life I learned from Santa
- Encourage people to believe in you.
- Always remember who's naughty and who's nice.
- Don't pout.
- It's as much fun to give as it is to receive.
- Some days it's okay to feel a little chubby.
- Make your presents known.
- Always ask for a little bit more than what you really want.
- Bright red can make anyone look good.
- Wear a wide belt and no one will notice how many pounds you've gained.
- If you only show up once a year, everyone will think you're very important.
- Whenever you're at a loss for words, say: "HO, HO, HO!"
A New Year's toast to you!
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May all the kindness and generosity you've shown in the previous year, reflect back to you in the year to come!
May your year be filled with 365 days of fortune, friendship and fun!
WEC Board of Directors
2004-2005
President
Dee Moustakas
Past President
Leigh Nickel
President Elect
Ronnie Karlin
VP Finance -
Jacqueline Powell
VP Corporate Records -
Emily Rushin
VP Internal Involvement
Vivien Godfrey
VP Community Involvement -
Joni Rosenthal
VP Membership -
Marilynn Obrig
All contact information is available for WEC members on our Members Only website. If you are a member and you don't have a name and password, you can contact Chris Guld for more information.
Upcoming Luncheons
11:30 amTower Club
Upcoming Board Meetings
at the Tower Club
The purpose of Women's Executive Club is to give executives the opportunity
of fellowship with their peers in diverse fields; to promote the image
of the woman executive; to further the interrelationships of such executives
and to promote the general welfare of their businesses and community.